The Starke County Council members and the Starke County Commissioners reviewed requests for CARES Act funding Monday night.
About $85,000 in receipts for PPE, overtime and certain purchases have already been submitted. A committee met last week to go over what the county departments need to consider for reimbursement.
The Auditor, EMS Director, Highway Superintendent, Sheriff, Assessor, Recorder, Judge and courts, and IT Director submitted items that could be covered with CARES Act funding as it relates to working remotely, assisting the public so they would not have to enter a county building, and keeping employees and residents as safe as possible in the pandemic.
Requests were made for technology upgrades, such as laptops and mobile devices, programs to assist with employees working remotely, law enforcement aides to limit exposure to officers, and health equipment needs.
Auditor Rachel Oesterreich said the Indiana Finance Authority already approved the purchase of three power-operated cots for the Starke County EMS ambulances in the amount of $83,000 and will check on several other requested items to see if they are eligible for reimbursement.
The requested items totaled about $556,000 out of the $744,000 the county received in CARES Act funds. The commissioners approved most of what was submitted. Department heads may have to find money in the budget to pay for some requested items if they do not qualify for reimbursement.
